Are fewer people buying books from a physical shop?

What if browsing for books in a physical shop is dying out?

We've recently seen articles about 'Moon Lane Books' and 'The Snug' launching fundraisers to help with their financial struggles.

According to the Booksellers Association, the number of bookshops in the UK fell from 1,063 to 1,052 in 2024, and those that are still running work harder than ever to bring in enough income.

Medium‑sized booksellers have virtually disappeared, squeezed between Amazon’s pricing power and giant chains.

While Waterstones still operates over 300 stores, their resurgence can’t mask the broader fragility of the sector.

Why does this decline matter?

👉 Community connection
Bookshops are more than retail. They host events, spark conversations, and give a stage to diverse voices. Their closure diminishes a piece of cultural heritage.

👉 Author and publisher ecosystem
Independent stores champion smaller and local authors, offering discoverability that Amazon’s algorithm simply can’t replicate.

👉 Economic diversity
Over‑reliance on global platforms like Amazon undermines smaller businesses.

So what can you do?

📖 Support your local store through visits, purchases, event attendance, or a quick shout‑out on social media
📖 Choose independent booksellers online where you can
📖 Encourage schools, offices, and community groups to hold bookshop‑based events or bulk orders.

Bookshops aren’t just businesses. For many people, they are places of discovery, connection, imagination and belonging.